BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz told reporters in Pawtucket on Saturday, that he hoped his rehab assignment was done and that he was "anxious to get back out on a big-league mound."

Not so fast.

John Farrell had plenty of positive things to say about Buchholz's outing for the PawSox, in which he threw 62 pitches in 4.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits using a good mix of pitches that included a fastball that hit the low-90s.

But Farrell also explained that there was no set plan for Buchholz moving forward as of Sunday morning.

"Overall strike-throwing was improved," Farrell said. "The report on just sheer arm strength and velocity was increased. Looking at 62 pitches thrown, and we haven't sat down and met with Clay yet to kind of go 'What's the next step?' "

Farrell pointed out that if Buchholz is to make a return to Boston's staff, he's likely going to need to show he can stay out on the mound -- and prove his stuff can remain somewhat consistent -- for a longer period of time.

"One of the things we'll have to consider," Farrell said, "is the number of pitches that he's currently built up to and what he'll be required or likely asked to do once he's back in our rotation. That's the one thing we've gotta kind of work through right now."

Buchholz was placed on the disabled list on May 28 with a hyperextended left knee.

You can read more about his start on Saturday -- his first, rehab or otherwise, since May 26 -- right here.

Phil Perry serves as a general reporter for Comcast SportsNet, mainly covering the New England Patriots. Follow Phil on Twitter here.